Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-11-02
Toms Good Story About Jim.

Gu Boouiy snnre Oh eXuDerant Ihncy
and picturesque Establishment to the
narrative, with fne scorn of any en-
barrassing facts which might impede
its sweep and flow. But by all means
let Tom tell it himself.
"You see, Jim had a $3.50, 900 pine
land deal with Stephens, of st. Helen
in Roscommon county, and had 80.
day option in which to put up the
rocks. From the way the bargain was
made Jim thought there would be no
trouble in getting an extension Of the
option if he did not plank down the
money at the time. Of course Jim
is millionaire, but it bothers the
richest man sometimes to show $780,
900 in cool cash. Well, two or three
days before the expiration of the op-
ton, Jim found purchaser, and COM
municated with Stephens about the
option. Now Stephens had been ne
gotiating with another party and had
got better offer. Jim heard of this
and he got anxious. So he telegraph.
ed: why haven't you answered my
letter? Can get an extension The
answer was no. Then Jim walked
up. He came to Detroit and went
round. to the banks for money. Fin
ally about the time the banks closed,
he got three cashiers together, and he
says to them:
"'Look here, 1 want $150,000 and
l want it right now
The three cashiers said all right,
jim, and each told their tellers to
count out $4,000 in currency. Jim
says to them:
Now certify that each bundle has
been counted and found correct
They affixed their certificates to
each bundle of notes, and Jim turn
ed his clean collars out of his grip
sack, and stuffed the $150,0o0 in their
place. Then he puts down to the
Michigan Central Central in hurry
and interviews the president.
Ledyard,' he said, Il want to 60 to
st. Helen tonight
"'You can't do it, said Ledyard,
there are no more trains tonight
Il know that says Jim, but 1 must
get there
you can't do it.
Il tell you / am going there before
midnight. want special engine
and car, and your best engineer, and
I want you to keep the road clear.
| don't care about the charge. l can
not afford to lose half a million with
out struggle
We'll, Jim, you can have all that,
but tell you you can't reach st. Hell
en- tonight. 1t is IT'S miles from
here, and the road is pretty rough
I'll chance it, says Jim.
They brought out an engine
and one car in jiffy. and Jim put
his wife on the car. Then he went to
the engineer and said: Now here's
$25, and for every hour you save be-
fore midnight you get $25 more
III do the best that l can, said the
engineer. The road above Bay City
isv ry rough, but I'll whoop it up for
all It is worth
l tell you that engine tore away
like mad, and they got to Bay City
in hurry. Then they had to take
the Mackinaw division of the Michi-
gan Central. The road-bed was pref
ty bad, and sure enough there was an
accident ahead. They had to stop at
a way station on account Of q wreck
up the line. Jim felt considerably
set back, but he didn't show it. He
just put his feet OH the gripsack and
clinched his teeth and waited. BY
good luck the wreck was cleared off
in about an hour, and away they NOV
ed again. 1t was dark by this time,
and the coach wobbled like hobby
horse. Jim asked the engineer if he
could 60 any faster.
i hardly dare to run faster, said
the man. but if you take the risk /
will"
Crack her through said Jimmy.
I'll pay for your funeral
The engine flashed along and the
car rocked worse than ever.
It's getting pretty rough said Mrs.
Turner. is there any danger, Jim.
my
Yes, my dear. But If we get off
the track we'll 60 in the ditch togeth-
err
All right, Jimmy.
Il would just as soon be ditched as
get left, after the way those fellows
have heated me, responded Jimmy.
Well to make long story short,
the train got to St. Helen about half
past II that night. Everything was
dark at the depot not a light in the
little hamlet.
Jim and his wife foundered through
the mud up to Stephens's door. Rap,
ran No answer More knockinO